justwannaquilt

I am not against the idea of "good enough" but I believe one can always improve their "good enough" through learning. wether it is learning an easier way to do something that in the end is less stressfull and easier to do "perfect".

Its kinda like children in school. Yeah they can read "good enough" in first grade but can they read "good enough" to get them through the rest of their life? NO, they must continue to learn to improve on their skills!

pocoellie

My quilts aren't perfect by any means of imagination. I try to match up seams and not have my points chopped off, but if they are, they are, I'm not "undoing" them. As long as you're happy then that's fine, because most people who receive them as gifts don't see the imperfections.

e4

Is good enough OK - maybe. I am a college professor and I always remind my students that nothing we do is ever perfect. We should try to do the best we can and attempt to make each thing better than we did before. In quilting we should always strive for the best (would that be perfection?) and be happy with whatever we accomplish if we have tried our best and had fun along the way.

At least that's the way I think of my quilting - I try ot make each one better than the one before. Either I learned a new technique, the colors work better, I'm happier with my points, the quilt pattern and the piecing seem to work better together, or whatever. Quilting is my relaxation, but I still learn something with every quilt I make (sometimes I learn I never want to make that pattern or use that technique again - LOL!). I don't have to worry about perfection, but I do hate it when it gets near the end of the quilt, I've pieced the same block 100 times, and I start to not care any more and get sloppy. That's when I have to step back and take a deep breath and figure out what is good enough.

I have taken out a few seams when the poor piecing was clearly visible from across the room, but I currently have one where the points don't quite match, but frankly I can't see it from 5 feet away so I'm not going to undo anything - its good enough!

One reason I think good enough is just fine is that I greatly admire the quilts I see at shows, but I find flaws in every one. One of the major prize winners at the Des Moines quilt show had some clearly visible unintended background showing between two pieces of the largest applique motif in the quilt. However, the judge obviously decided that the rest of the beautiful quilt outweighed that flaw. Another prize winner had skipped stitches right at eye-level in a prominent spot. Am I being critical - not at all - just couldn't help but notice that even the prize winners aren't perfect.

manyana

I quilt for enjoyment and relaxation. I don't like to see obvious (to everyone)"errors" but I don't make perfect quilts. I just enjoy the process and LOVE when the receiver is happy with their gift.
Colleen

MadQuilter

That is a tough question to answer. I generally do not settle in my own work. I am my own quilt police and I would be upset if I did not do my level best. My best, however, is not perfection. I still make utility quilts that can (and do) get dragged over the floor or end up under a cat (my favorite storage place - lol).

When I look at everyone else's quilts on the QB or other places, I do not judge the bits. I look at the sum of the parts and appreciate the creativity and workmanship that the quilter put into the work.

If you are happy with your work, and you feel good about it (or even just OK) who am I to criticize you or your work? For starters, you are finished - and that is a lot further than I am with my stack of UFOs.

This QB is a support system and I bet that I would not notice the things that you claim to "settle" on.

SO bring on those pictures, will ya'?

jljack

I have my own level of "good enough"...I think every quilter does. I let lots of little ooppsses go by without stopping to fix them. When I get a big one, I stop and consider it and decide whether I should fix it. Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

I made a quilt for my BFF who taught me how to quilt, and it had 2 vary large ooppsses....I didn't mention them to her until several months after I made it, and she swears she never saw them. She also vowed to never look for them...and I believe her. What appears imperfect to us appears perfect to the person we give it to with love. That's all there is to it.

I think a lot of quilters have been bitten by the Competition Bug, and that's fine, but the rest of us don't have to measure up to National Quilt Show standards. We can be our own home show standard!! :-)

sasseyib

Good enough is fine with me. With the quilts that I have made in the past I have tried so hard to make everything perfect and it has only caused me stress. So with that said, I have decided that from now on I will just relax and enjoy what I am doing and if they aren't perfect it will be ok.

bjnicholson

I'm in the middle of making my first quilt. When I started, I think I over-did the "good enough" thing. When I went to put the blocks together, I had to rip out and resew 18 of the first blocks because I wasn't paying attention to the finished size. Now I have 7 strips that I have to somehow get straight enough so I can put the borders on. I have another one to make just like it. Believe me, good enough will be taking a back seat!

bigsister63

I try to do the best I can. I really try to make straight seams, matched points and intersections and straight lines on my FMQ. But if I do not then "Oh well". Use the galloping horse principle to judge your quilt. When you see the pictures you are not seeing them up close and personal to see any mistakes.. It is process that should be fun!

Jingle

I always try to make a perfect quilt, haven't yet. DD says there is no such thing. I figure if I keep trying, I will at least get a little closer. My rule is to only try 3 times to get something to line up or match, if it won't I move on.